Plating and method of accomplishing the same



Patented Sept. 1 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY GARDNER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB '10 FORD MOTOR COMIPANY, OI

HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PLATmG AND METHOD OF ACCOMPLISHING THE SAME.

No Drawing.

In the process of producing a finished nickel plated article there are numerous operations incurring time, labor and expense, and one of these operations is that of bufling or polishing the nickel plated article by using some polishing material WhlCh w1l 1mpart lustre, color or a high degree of finish on the article. This last mentioned operation materially lessens the durabllity of the article, particularly if the article possesses corners or edges which are subjected to Wear.

My invention aims to simplify the process of producing a finished nickel plated article by eliminating the o eration referred to above, whereby the ollowing advantages are gained.

First, besides eliminating the time, cost and labor incident to the bufiing or polishing operation, I obtain an article or plate of uniform thickness, particularly at its corners or edges thus insuring greater wear.

Second, the finish and texture of the coating on the article are materially improved, ,Without any danger of peeling or cracking of the nickel coating.

My invention further aims to improve the process of nickel plating b using a nickel] plating solution or bath w ich, during the process of nickel plating, will prevent pitting of the article or plate being treated and insure a final finish possessing a desired degree of lustre or color. The advantages gained by my improved nickel lating bath or solution may be characterize in the following particulars.

First, the time in which articles are immersed in the nickel plating solution is ma terially reduced, approximately one-half, thus insuring a greater production of nickel plated articles or plates.

Second, the bath or solution can be easily and quickly changed to produce an article or plate having a desired degree of finish or lustre ranging from dullness to brightness, consequently the bath or solution being used to produce one grade of articles can be quickly changed to produce another grade of articles without discarding or wasting the initial bath or solution.

Third, the improvement entering into the Application filed February 18,1923. Serial No. 620,040.

bath or solution is applicable to other plating processes than that of nickel lating, and

as an instance of other plating T may mention copper plating for the reason that the finish imparted to copper insures an indurate coating having a high degree of lustre.

It is by virtue of the improved plating bath or solution that I gain the first mentioned advantages, namely that of eliminating the bufling or polishing operation and by producing an article equally as good, if not better, with a proportionate increase in the production of such articles.

In order that my improvement may be more fully understood, I will briefly consider nickel plating as an instance of a plating process in which my improvement has been successfully used and produced good results. In an ordinary nickel plating process, the article to be plated is thoroughly clean. This may be accomplished by a series of dippingin suitable chemical solutions rinsing waters, and subjecting the article to an electrolysis action in chemical baths, so that the article is chemically clean for plating purposes.

Should the article to be nickel plated be of a ferrous nature it is customary to first copper plate the article by immersing it in a copper solution in an electro-plating tank, for a period of time necessary to deposit the proper coating of desired thickness. Following either the copper plating operation 55 or the cleaning of the article for the nickel plating operation, the article must be burnished or bufi'ed on the surface to be nickel plated, and the extent of burnishin or bufling depends upon the smoothness o the final finish to be imparted to the article.

With the article prepared in either of the above recited ways, it is now ready to be immersed in a nickel plating bath or-solution. As an instance of such bath I may mention as added to each gallon of water sulphate nickel salts, single or double 12 ounces, and boracic or muriatic acids 4 ounces ;or ammoniacal solution of ammonium-nickel sulphate receiving a nickel anode, while the article is the cathode in c'ircuit with a suitable source of electrical energy affording from one to five volts accordmg to the amount and surface to be nickel plated.

To each hundred gallons of either of the above baths or solutlons I add Cadmium chloride or sulphate 81 Glycerine 200 to 800 Lead sulphate .266 Lead carbonate Or lead monoxide litharge The composition of the solution matter or. bath may be varied somewhat in each particular so that there may be various bath formulas for nickel plating purposes. For instance, to one gallon of water there may be the following admixture:

Sulphate nickel salts (double Then again, I may dispense with the lead compounds or cadmium and simply depend upon glycerine to obtain a similar result. I may also substitute molasses for the glycerine in either of the above'combinations.

As is the usual practice, the article to be lated is suspended in the solution or bath or a period of time necessary to furnish the article with a coating of desired thickness, and in addition to the time element the current Volta e, the amperage used, and the strength 0 the solution determine to a certain extent the final result. For a heavy coating or a large amount of material the time of immersion is roportionately lengthened, and whatever tlie time may be the article is allowed to remain in the solution until it becomes bright and has a high lustre, when it is removed from the solution, rinsed in cold water, subjected to an acid bath, and again rinsed and which will permit the article to be eventually dry without being spotted and at the same time preserve the finishing color imparted to it.

I find that cadmium in a nickel plating bath or solution tends to reduce the size of the grains of the nickel and that this action is further increased by the addition of glycerine. Either of these in redients, in a suitable carrying agent, wi l enhance the final appearance of the article by eliminatin lpittin and producing an exceedingly bri t sur ace.

of cadmium, glycerine or any equivalents or combinations thereof that Wlll cause a coated article to be produced, by electro lating, which does not require a final bu g or polishing o eration.

What I c aim is 1. A solution for a nickel plating tank comprising the following ingredients in the proportions set forth: water one gallon, sulphate nickel salts (double) 5 to 12 ounces, sulphate nickel salts (single) 1 to 8 ounces, boracic acid to 4 ounces, muriatic acid to ounces cadmium chloride 1 to 8 penny weights, an glycerine to 1 ounce.

2. A solution for a nickel plating tank comprising the following ingredients in the proportions set. forth: water, one gallon; sulphate nickel salts (double) 8 ounces, sulphate nickel salts (single) 4 ounces, boracic acid 2 ounces, muriatic acid 14 ounce, cadmium chloride 3 pennyweights, and of gly- 'cerine ounce.

In a nickel plate solution the combination of a solution of nickel salts 'of a strength suitable for lating purposes with a small percentage of cadmium salts and a suitable carrying agent.

4. In a nickel plate solution the combination with nickel salts in solution of glycerine with a small percentage of cadmium salts as a means of producing a lustrous coating on an article plated thereby.

- 5. A solution for a nickel plating tank comprising the following ingredients in the pro ortions set forth, to one gallon of water,

ad from 5 to 12 ounces of nickel ammonium sulphate, 1 to 8 ounces nickel sulphate, to 4: ounces boracic acid, ounce sal-ammoniac, 1 to 8 pennyweights cadmium chloride, to 2 ounces glycerine.

6. A solution for a nickel plating tank comprising the following ingredients in the proportions set forth, to one gallon of water, add 8 ounces of nickel ammonium sulphate, 4 ounces nickel sulphate, 2 ounces boracic acid, ounce sal-ammoniac, 3 pennyweights cadmium chloride, 1 ounces glycerine.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HENRY GARDNER.

t is thought unnecessary to set forth the no 

